State v. . Roberts

Jul 5, 1827
Versions:12 N.C. 259

Lead Opinion

It was then proved that several days after the prisoner was committed to jail, he of his own voluntary motion requested the jailer to send for Smith, stating that he wished to disclose to him the names of certain persons who had been concerned in and advised the commission of the burglary. Smith came, and after the prisoner had stated his accomplices’ names, Smith asked him how he got the door open, in answer to which he described the manner of opening the door, and stated other circumstances tending to establish his guilt, many of which were confirmed by the testimony of other witnesses.

These latter confessions the court received and left to the jury, who found the prisoner guilty; and a new trial being refused and judgment pronounced, the prisoner appealed. I think it would be unsafe to extend the admission of confessions in evidence against a prisoner further than a course of approved adjudications warrant. The true rule is that a confession cannot be received in evidence where the defendant has been influenced by any threat or promise; for, as it has been justly remarked, the mind, under the pressure of calamity, is prone to acknowledge, indiscriminately, a falsehood or a truth, as different agitations may prevail; and therefore a confession obtained by the slightest emotions of hope or fear ought to be rejected. Here the prisoner was told him confession could not be given in evidence on account of his being in custody, and that he had better tell the whole truth; and further, that as he had better tell the whole truth; and further that as he was a young man, it would be to his credit hereafter. Some confession was made under the immediate influence of the motives thus presented to him. Two or three days afterwards, without any immediate influence being exercised over him, he made a fuller confession, but it is impossible to say that the latter was voluntary, for it may have been the result of the hope first held out to him and before it is admitted, the court ought to be thoroughly satisfied that it was voluntary.

There ought to be a new trial.

Addendum

In order to make the confessions of a prisoner evidence to a jury, it should appear that he was not induced to make them from a hope of favor or compelled (261) by fear of injury.

As to the first confession made by the prisoner in this case, two circumstances are observable: first, he was told that any confessions he might make could not be given in evidence against him, because he was in custody; and, secondly, that if he made any, it would be more to his credit hereafter. I think the judge acted altogether right in rejecting, as evidence, these confessions, because they were made with the expectations of benefit and under a belief that they could not afterwards be raised up in evidence against him. When these confessions were made, Smith, the prosecutor, was present, and the confessions which were afterwards made to him in jail appear to have been a continuance of these which were made as before observed upon. The prisoner, it is presumable, did not think that these would be used against him more than those first made. Indeed, it would seem a little strange that confessions made at one time should not be evidence, but a repetition of them afterwards should be; besides, it may be asked, why did the prisoner, by his last confessions, try to make others participate in his crime, unless it was therefrom to derive benefit and lighten his own burthen? I think these confessions were not of that voluntary character which the law requires they should be to make them legal evidence. The first and last made confessions appear to me to be of the same character. I am of opinion of new trial should be granted.

Addendum

Confessions are either voluntary or involuntary. They are called voluntary when , made neither under the influence of hope of fear, but are attributable to that love of truth which predominates in the breast of every man, not operated upon by other motives more powerful with (262) him, and which, it is said, in the perfectly good man cannot be countervailed. These confessions are the highest evidences of truth, even in cases affecting life. But it is said, and said with truth, that confessions induced by hope or extorted by fear are, of all kinds of evidence, the least to be relied on, and are therefore entirely to be rejected. It seems to be admitted in this case that the confessions first made were of that character, and were therefore rejected; but that, being repeated to same person some time afterwards, they lost their original character, assuming that of free and voluntary ones, and became evidences of the truth. But for what reason I am at a loss to conceive. How or whence does it appear that the motives which induced the first confession had ceased to operate when it was repeated? It is not incumbent on the prisoner to show that they resulted from the same motives. It is presumed that they did, and evidence of the most irrefragable kind should be produced to show that they did not. It is sufficient that they may proceed from the same cause, 4 Starkie, 49, In fact, the latter confessions are mere duplicates of the first, and it might as well be said that the copy is more perfect than the original. Had the prisoner gone further in the last confessions than in the first, such further admissions are all of the same character, and are supposed to flow from the same source. As to the confessions being corroborated by other testimony, that cannot affect the case. They were admissible or inadmissible, of themselves. It is true that where a fact has been ascertained through extorted confessions, such fact may be proven: as if the prisoner disclose the place where the stolen goods were concealed, it may be shown that the goods were found there; but nothing that the prisoner said in regard to them is admissible. Were it not for authority, which I am not prepared wither to admit or deny, I would say that nothing but the insulated fact pointed out by the prisoner‘s confession should be proven; not even that the discovery was (263) made by means of the confessions. 4 Starkie Ev., 51. These corroborating circumstances, I think, were improperly received, and this upon authority, as well as reason; for the confessions cannot be propped by circumstances tending to establish their probability. The evidence showing that must rest on its own basis, and cannot be propped by confessions improperly obtained.

PER CURIAM. Judgment reversed, and new trial awarded.

Cited: S. v. Scates, 50 N.C. 422; S. v. Fisher, 51 N.C. 481; S. v.Mitchell, 61 N.C. 448; S. v. Lawhorne, 66 N.C. 639; S. v. Drake, 82 N.C. 596; S. v. Ellis, 97 N.C. 449; S. v. Drake, 113 N.C. 624; S. v. Brittain, 117 N.C. 783; S. v. Davis, 125 N.C. 614.